What should I do with these old Biwa pearls?

[Xpearlnoob1]

They're very beautiful, but I just can't find a good masculine looking setting for more than a few of these guys. I've been wearing pearls lately, I like the look but these are a bit too much. I'm 90% sure they're Biwas from the 70's or 80's, are they worth more than modern examples in this form/size?

 

[Pearl Dreams]

They look like second harvest freshwater pearls from China.

So what are second harvest pearls?
After a mussel's tissue-grafted pearls are harvested, the mussel can be placed back in the water to make more pearls in the pearl sac that is already there. Pearls that come out in the second harvest can be various shapes, including some that look like the ones in your photo.

These are low value pearls.

 

[Xpearlnoob1]

They look like second harvest freshwater pearls from China.

So what are second harvest pearls?
After a mussel's tissue-grafted pearls are harvested, the mussel can be placed back in the water to make more pearls in the pearl sac that is already there. Pearls that come out in the second harvest can be various shapes, including some that look like the ones in your photo.

These are low value pearls.

Thanks for responding! Is that the same technique used to produce Keshi pearls? So these would be non nucleated is that correct?

 

[Pearl Dreams]

That is the same technique used to produce FW keshi. Sometimes though a form is placed in the pearl sac so that the 2nd harvest pearl forms over the shape. Stars, coins, etc. I have seen pieces of flexible plastic mesh used to produce a cornflake-like shape. (Gotta love those cereal comparisons!)
I think the only way to be sure what is inside yours (if anything) is to break one open, if you can bear to sacrifice it.

 

[ennui]

Are they drilled? Send them to me.
I think they'd look cool simply displayed, like rose petals in dish.

 

[Xpearlnoob1]

Are they drilled? Send them to me.
I think they'd look cool simply displayed, like rose petals in dish.

Haha. They would look cool that way! There are a few here with nice sides that would look great bezel set.

 

[Xpearlnoob1]

That is the same technique used to produce FW keshi. Sometimes though a form is placed in the pearl sac so that the 2nd harvest pearl forms over the shape. Stars, coins, etc. I have seen pieces of flexible plastic mesh used to produce a cornflake-like shape. (Gotta love those cereal comparisons!)
I think the only way to be sure what is inside yours (if anything) is to break one open, if you can bear to sacrifice it.

I saw a broken one it's just pearl material all the way through. It's a shame they're not perfectly spherical lol